What is this tool? scale or steelyard

[ThorsHammer82]

Ok, So a month or so ago, I got the privilege to pick up a good amount of old metal, tools, and misc. stuff from my Co-workers recently Deceased aunt's house. Her husband had been a jack of all trades type of guy and even did blacksmithing. Unfortunately the majority of the Black smith tools and hardware were gone. But I did find a tool that I have no idea what they might be and would like some opinions.

This looks like it could almost be a scale arm based on the pyramid (close ups) on the side. of it.

[Steve Sells]

Posts split and relocated from other thread.  posts from there moved here for clearity,  I included the names of posters and their comments .

 

njanvilman   It is a scale.  Missing the weights, but nicely hand forged.

 

notownkid     a scale arm.  3rd. ??

 

doc  as mentioned a scale minus the weights another name for it is a steelyard.

 

Jim Coke The last one looks like an implement link ..

 

ThorsHammer82  Pictures are all of the scale arm. I've got some weights that came from the same place so they must go together.

[bigfootnampa]

The old scale is usually called a cotton scale.  They usually had a sliding weight and one or a few counterweights as well.

[Thomas Dean]

the weights are called 'pea/peas'  The peas are harder to find than the 'beam' which is what the you have shown in the last pic.  I have seen these as long as 7ft., the big ones like that are fairly rare. 

[doc]

The old scale is usually called a cotton scale.  They usually had a sliding weight and one or a few counterweights as well.

 Bigfoot, That maybe what Sutheners call it, but here in the Nawth it's called a steelyard  :)

[Frank Turley]

...and Good Ol' Boys, north or south, pronounce it "stillyerd."

[ThorsHammer82]

ok, so say I have the right weights for this. would it be worth anything? I don't want to use it for metal stock if it's worth something.

[ThomasPowers]

Not particularly rare or useful in this day of common scales; an old bathroom scale has a much better resolution and range.

[bigfootnampa]

With the weights (peas) I see them for around $30-$50 in the antique stores around here.  About $20 without weights.

[Frank Turley]

Some of the early, antique steelyards are stunningly beautiful in their execution. I'm familiar with the Mexican ones, some of which have the stamped date of manufacture. One would expect to pay more for one of them as opposed to the flat bar, "cotton scale" type of balance. The same might be said for equal arm balances; some are plain and some are beautifully forged and finished.